Bloodstone is My Birthstone? By Barbara Edwards

March Birthstone, Bloodstone

I’m still surprised by what I learn daily. I was window shopping an estate jewelry sale when I noticed a bland, small ring. Debra, my favorite jeweler, held it up and the light picked out a red veining in a dark green stone. Bloodstone, she explained. The delicate filigree setting was 18 carat gold and on each side depicted a fleur-de-lis. I couldn’t resist. I slipped it on my pinkie finger and fell in love with it. She assured me it could be resized for another finger but I refused. It felt right. I even joked that it would help me to read my Tarot cards. The problem was this was two weeks before Christmas and we had already gotten presents. Sigh. Then she told me it was March’s birthstone, too. My birthday is March first and I wanted to cry. But….. we left.

Bloodstone is a dark green Chalcedony with splashes or occasional spots of red Jasper. Bloodstone is reputed to be a powerful healing crystal. It is sometimes referred to as ‘Heliotrope’ especially in old grimoires. Legend says the stone formed when the blood of Christ was spilled on the rocks below the cross, and the stone is blessed with healing power. Older legends link Bloodstone with the healing powers of the Sun God.

Bloodstone instills courage which lead to it being called ‘hero’s stone’ at times.

Roman soldiers believed Bloodstone could staunch the flow of blood and prevent wounds from becoming infected.  India uses it as an aphrodisiac. Bloodstone is said to be especially effective for lower back pain and blood disorders such as anemia, diabetes, high blood pressure or circulation problems. It is a useful crystal to use in any healing work, believed to increase the flow of blood to the tissues, boost the immune system and improve overall health.

Heliotrope, Herb

Bloodstone is said to have a special affinity with the herb Heliotrope (‘turns with the sun’), and if the two are used together in spells or charm bags the herb is believed to amplify the stone’s power. According to old magical writings, a charm made with Bloodstone and Heliotrope will make the bearer invisible. Sleeping with Bloodstone and Heliotrope under your pillow is said to cause prophetic dreams. Maybe that’s why I felt a connection to Tarot cards.

On Christmas Eve, my husband gave me a small box and I ‘knew’ he’d gotten me the ring. Imagine my pleasure. I wear it more often than anything else I own. Do I believe it has special properties? I can’t say that I’ve noticed, but it does make me feel good.

Visit my website: http://www.barbaraedwards.net for excerpts from my books and buy links.

 

 

Back on Saint George Island by Barbara Edwards

Back on Saint George Island by Barbara Edwards.

Back on Saint George Island by Barbara Edwards

Although we are also  back, I mean the Blue Herons are here. Their rookery was destroyed by last summer’s storms and I’ve been waiting to see if they would rebuild.  The Rangers told me the fresh-water ponds were low because it hadn’t rained for six months. Until we arrived that it. Two inches of rain fell as a precursor to the snow storm up North.

This morning I saw a Blue Heron carrying  a large twig in its beak. It circled gracefully before landing on a branch high in a tree. I could barely make out the pile of branches it was forming into a nest. Nice to know nature has a way of overcoming problems. I’ve counted six birds early in the morning when I walk Dixie.

I also learned the reason they encourage cleaning up after your dog is because the smell will frighten away the wild birds. I’m glad I was already being a good camper.

The island is on the migratory route for hundreds of species of birds and sometimes the noise from them is deafening. I’m not a bird expert but I love to see them.  A number of campers are also birdwatchers. I have the Audubon Bird Book so when I get a good look I can identify them.

I did recognize a Bald Eagle circling overhead. He’s nesting on the other side of the bay.

Last fall the Rangers finally had a chance to do a controlled burn out here. The brush was so thick it was a definite fire hazard, but everything has to be right. I wondered if the blackened tree trunk and scorched ground would recover.

To my delight, ferns and other plants have poked green up along the paths.

The birds have found scorched pine cones to pick at and lots of bugs. Did you know many pines need to have the cones burned before they will sprout?

The biggest change is along the beach. Although the hurricane was considered mild it did a tremendous amount of change. In places the beach  is narrower. The dunes closest to the water were resculpted or removed.  The area where I saw the turtle eggs is almost flat.

The dunes were scraped free of vegetation on the windward side and some dunes further from the beach are higher.

Not too many shells are washed up whole since the bottom has changed, but I love to walk the beach. The water is warm enough to wade. The wind blows the sand and whips a foamy froth on the waves. The sun feels like a blessing. My writing is going well as I relax into that wonderful Southern mode.

I’m so glad to be back.

Visit http://www.barbaraedwards.net to read excerpts from my books and hopefully buy one. I hope you like the updated site.